Clamping apparatus for clamping an antiskid device for tires

ABSTRACT

A clamping apparatus for clamping an antiskid device for tires is disclosed, in which the antiskid device comprises a plurality of rubber antiskid members each of which is sandwiched by and connected to a pair of parallel side members through a metal clasper, wherein said clamping apparatus comprises a circular tension member made of rubber, and said plurality of metal claspers, each of said metal claspers having a first engagement portion adapted for engaging with said side members, a second engagement portion adapted for engaging with a corresponding one of said antiskid members and a third engagement portion adapted for engaging with said circular tension member, said circular tension member when in operation being fitted in said third engagement portion, whereby said metal claspers can be directed or attracted toward the center of said tire by means of the elastic reaction force of said circular tension members.

cl BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for clamping anantiskid device for tires. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a clamping apparatus for clamping an antiskid device fortires, in which the antiskid device comprises a plurality of rubberantiskid members which are connected to a pair of parallel side membersthrough respective metal claspers.

Conventionally, tire chains have been attached onto the tires of a caror spike tires have been fitted to the car before driving when it wasexpected to run on a snow-covered road or field in order to prevent thecar from slipping. Recently, examples of most popular antiskid devicesinclude those which comprise a pair of parallel side members such asside ropes and a plurality of rubber non-slip bands arranged between andconnected to the side members so that a ladder-like construction can beobtained as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-OpenNo. 113205/82. This type of the conventional antiskid devices areattached to tires by tightly fastening the side members such that thenon-slip bands are in close contact with the outer peripheral surface ofthe tire.

However, the conventional antiskid devices are disadvantageous in thatwith increasing speed of cars driven and accordingly increasingrotational speed of the tires the non-slip rubber bands tend to expandoutwardly due to centrifugal force exerted thereon and the expandedportion could touch a fender or other members or parts, resulting inthat the bands would be damaged easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to obviate the above-describeddisadvantage of the conventional antiskid devices and provide a clampingapparatus for clamping an antiskid device for tires which can tightlyfasten the antiskid device without adverse effect of centrifugal forceexerted on antiskid members when the tires roll or are driven at highspeeds.

As a result of extensive investigation, it has now been found thatprovision of a circular rubber tension member which is brought intoengagement with a portion formed in each of the metal claspers so thatthe elastic reaction force generated when the tension member is in theoperational position can cause the metal claspers to be directed orattracted toward the center of the tire.

Therefore, the present invention provides a clamping apparatus forclamping an antiskid device for tires, in which the antiskid devicecomprises a plurality of rubber antiskid members each of which issandwiched by and connected to a pair of parallel side members through ametal clasper, wherein said clamping apparatus comprises a circulartension member made of rubber, and said plurality of metal claspers,each of said metal claspers having a first engagement portion adaptedfor engaging with said side members, a second engagement portion adaptedfor engaging with a corresponding one of said antiskid members and athird engagement portion adapted for engaging with said circular tensionmember, said circular tension member when in operation being fitted insaid third engagement portion, whereby said metal claspers can bedirected or attracted toward the center of said tire by means of theelastic reaction force of said circular tension members.

With this construction, the adverse effect of centrifugal force can beavoided with ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of fitting to a tire of a clamping apparatusfor clamping an antiskid device for tires according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a metal clasper used in the clampingapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clamping apparatus for clamping anantiskid device for tires according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation of the clamping apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a clamping apparatusfor clamping an antiskid device for tires of the present invention. Theclamping apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of metal claspers 2 and atension member 3 which is made of rubber. The metal claspers 2 each havethree engagement portions. The first engagement portion 4 is forengaging with one of a pair of side members 10 which, when in operation,are arranged substantially parallel to each other in such a manner thatthey are brought in contact with the side surfaces of a tire 30. Thesecond engagement portion 5 is for engaging with an antiskid member 20.The third portion 6 is adapted for engaging with a circular tensionmember 3 made of rubber.

The second engagement portion 5 of the metal clasper 2 which is providedat the top thereof, is substantially in the form of a hook and adaptedfor the engagement with the antiskid member 20 through a through hole 21provided therein at each end thereof. In operation, each antiskid member20 is engaged with two metal claspers. The metal clasper 2 has at thebottom thereof the first engagement portion 4 which is substantially inthe form of a circle or ring through which the side member 10 (or siderope 10a) can be passed and held slidably. On the middle of the metalclasper 2 is provided a semi-circular engagement portion 6 which issubstantially in the form of a hook and adapted for engaging with therubber tension member 3. The metal clasper 2 shown in FIG. 2 can beformed by bending a single wire rod of a suitable metallic material suchas iron or steel.

On the other hand, the metal clasper 2 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a metalsheet having formed therein by bending two second engagement portions 5which are in a bifurcate form on one end and a third engagement portion6 on the opposite end and a substantially circular wire member 4 servingas a first engagement portion which is formed by curving a rivet-likemetal wire rod after passing it through two through holes 1a providednear the bottom of the third engagement portion 6 to form a ring.

The first engagement portion 4 may be formed integrally with the secondengagement portion 5 and the third engagement portion 6 or may beconnected to them as by welding.

In the metal claspers 2 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the first engagementportion 4 for engaging with the side member 10 is provided on the bottomside, i.e., the side remote from the second engagement portion 5 whichis to be engaged with the antiskid member 20, and the third engagementportion 6 for engaging with the tension member 3 is provided generallyon the middle of the metal clasper 2. However, the first engagementportion 4 may be used as one for engaging with the tension member 3 andthe third engagement portion 6 may be employed as one for engaging withthe side member 10.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first engagementportion 4 is in the form of a closed circle or ring and the thirdengagement portion 6 is in the form of a hook with an open space.However, both the first and third engagement portions may be a closedcircle or a hook with an open space. Alternatively, the form of thefirst engagement portion 4 may be a hook with open space and that of thethird engagement portion may be a closed circle.

The second engagement portion 5 for engaging with the antiskid member 20may be a single hook as shown in FIG. 2 or bifurcated substantially in aV-letter form as shown in FIG. 3. Of course, the shape and material ofthe metal clasper 2 and specific construction, shape, size, and the likeof the first, second and third engagement portions 4, 5 and 6,respectively, are not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, andmay be modified freely.

The tension member 3, which is generally circular in cross-section, canbe made of any suitable rubber and is formed as a circle. The length ofthe circular tension member can be adjusted such that when the antiskidmembers 20 are fitted onto the outer periphery of the tire 30 and therespective antiskid members 20 are engaged with the corresponding metalclaspers 2 at the respective second engagement portions 5 thereof andthen the tension member 3 is fitted to the third engagement portion 6the tension member 3 can exert an elastic reaction force on the antiskidmembers 20 to pull the antiskid members 20 toward the center of the tire30 to thereby pressing the antiskid members 20 against the outerperiphery of the tire 30.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, therubber tension member 3 may be provided with a plurality of expandedportions 3a each smoothly tapering from the larger end to the small endso that the transverse outer size of the smaller end is substantiallyequal to the transverse size of that portion of the tension memberexcluding the expanded portions at predetermined positions as shown inFIG. 4. More specifically, a pair of the closest or mating expandedportions 3a are spaced so that when in operation the third engagementportion 6 for the engagement with the tension member 3 is sandwichedtherebetween, which construction facilitates the positioning of themetal claspers 2.

Although use of a single tension member 3 for each side surface of thetire 30 is described in the foregoing embodiment a plurality of thetension members 3 can be used for each side surface of the tire 30 whichare to be engaged respectively with only limited numbers of the metalclaspers 2 positioned at a predetermined interval but in such a mannerthat all the metal claspers 2 can be engaged with at least one of thetension members 3. For example, eight metal claspers 2 as shown in FIG.1 are tentatively divided in two groups by selecting every other metalclasper 2 and two rubber tension members 3 are engaged with the groupsof the metal claspers, respectively, so that the two groups of the metalclaspers 2 can separately be displaced toward the center of the tire 30.The specific construction, shape, number, material, etc. of the rubbertension member 3 are not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4but can be modified freely.

The side member 10 may comprise a side rope 10a such as a wire rope orchain and a pipe 10b made of a synthetic resin having inserted thereinthe side rope 10a (FIG. 4). This construction is advantageous forprotecting the side rope 10a.

In operation, at first the two side members 10 (side ropes 10a) areengaged with the metal claspers 2, e.g., by passing the side member 10through the through holes (FIGS. 2 and 3) defined by the firstengagement portion 4 of the metal clasper 2, and then, the secondengagement portion of each of the metal claspers 2 is engaged with thehole 21 of each of the antiskid members 20 with the antiskid members 20being arranged substantially parallel to each other at a predeterminedspace to form a ladder-like assembly. Then, the resulting ladder-likeassembly is fitted onto the tire 30. Upon the fitting, each of the metalclaspers 2 attached to the side members (side ropes 10a) automaticallyslides along the side member 10 (side rope 10a) to a predeterminedposition by accomplishing the clamping operation of the side member 10(side rope 10a). Thereafter, the rubber tension member 3 is forcedlyengaged with each of the metal claspers 2 at the third engagementportions thereof.

The clamping apparatus of the present invention can be applied toso-called ladder type antiskid members, so-called net type antiskidmembers which is formed integrally, antiskid members having X- orY-configuration, etc.

With the clamping apparatus of the present invention, outward expansionof the rubber antiskid members which would otherwise occur due tocentrifugal force exerted thereon with increasing speed of cars drivenand accordingly with increasing rotational speed of the tires can beeffectively prevented, and therefore, damage of antiskid members as hasbeen experienced with the conventional means as a result of the factthat the antiskid members touch the fender or other members or parts ofthe car can be prevented. Further, the antiskid members can be broughtin a closer contact with the outer periphery of the tire 30 which surelyprevents the antiskid members from slipping out of the predeterminedposition with respect to the tire 30 or from being distorted bythemselves.

The clamping apparatus of the present invention can be applied to a widevariety of antiskid members and can use various types of side members,and therefore, can be used for general purpose.

The combined use of the rubber tension member 3 and the side member 10is advantageous since a strong force if any applied to the antiskidmembers is absorbed by the side member 10, reducing the possibility thatthe side member 10 could be transformed to a greater extent before therubber tension member 3 breaks.

In the construction of the clamping apparatus of the present inventionthe metal clasper 2 to be used can be of a simple construction andtherefore is suited for mass production. Furthermore, the firstengagement portion 4 can be fitted to the side member 10 withoutdifficulty. The second engagement portion 5 can be engaged with thethrough hole 21 of the antiskid members 20 with ease. The thirdengagement portion 6 can be engaged with the rubber tension member 3easily. When the metal claspers 2 having bifurcate type secondengagement portion 5 are used the number of the metal claspers 2 to beused can be reduced as well as the antiskid members can be supportedvery stably.

Further, when the first engagement portion 4 of the metal clasper 2 forthe engagement with the side member 10 is circular not only there is nofear that the first engagement portion 4 could slip out of the sidemember 10 (side rope 10a) but also the fitting position of the metalclasper 2 can be adjusted appropriately and with ease.

When the first engagement portion 4 of the metal clasper 2 for theengagement with the side member is shaped in the form of a hook thefirst engagement portion 4 can be fitted to any desired position on theside chain and it is easy to alter the number of the antiskid membersdepending on the size or other factor of the tire 30.

Provision of protective pipes 10b around the side rope 10a makes it sureto protect the side rope 10a and greatly improve the durability thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clamping apparatus for clamping an antiskiddevice for a tire having an outer periphery and opposite side surfaces,said antiskid device including a plurality of rubber antiskid membersdisposable across said outer periphery of said tire and a pair ofelongated side members periphery disposed on said opposite side surfacesof said tire in substantially parallel relation to each other andconnectable to said antiskid members so as to fasten said antiskidmembers to said tire, said clamping apparatus comprising:a plurality ofmetal claspers for interconnecting said antiskid members with one ofsaid elongate side members; and a circular rubber tension membersubstantially coaxially disposable on one of said opposite side surfacesof said tire and directly connectable to said metal claspers for urgingsaid metal claspers towards the center of said tire, each of said metalclaspers comprising: a first engagement portion for engaging with one ofsaid elongate side members; a second engagement portion for engagingwith a corresponding one of said antiskid members; and a thirdengagement portion for engaging with said circular rubber tensionmember, said circular rubber tension member, when in operation, beingfitted with said third engagement portion, said circular rubber tensionmember being provided with a plurality of pairs of expanded portionsdisposed at predetermined positions, each said pair of expanded portionsbeing spaced from each other at such an interval that said thirdengagement portion of a corresponding one of said metal claspers isengageable with that portion of the tension member between thecorresponding pair of expanded portions, each of said expanded portionshaving larger and smaller opposite ends, said larger end being adjacentto the mating expanded portion, said smaller end being remote from themating expanded portion, each of said expanded portions smoothlytapering from said larger end to said smaller end so that the transverseouter size of said smaller end is substantially equal to the transversesize of that portion of said tension member excluding the expandedportions.
 2. The clamping apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachof said metal claspers is made of a bent wire rod, wherein said firstengagement portion substantially in the form of a circle through whichthe corresponding one of said side members is slidably engageable, saidfirst engagement portions being positioned on a bottom or radiallyinnermost side of said metal clasper, wherein said second engagementportion is substantially in the form of a hook and is positioned on atop or radially outermost side of said metal clasper, and wherein saidthird engagement portion is substantially in the form of a hook and ispositioned in a middle portion of said metal clasper intermediate saidfirst and second engagement portions of said clasper.
 3. The clampingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said metal Claspers ismade of a bent metal sheet and a bent wire rod attached to a bottom orradially innermost side of said metal sheet, wherein said firstengagement portion is substantially in the form of a ring made of saidwire rod, wherein said second engagement portion is positioned on a topor radially outermost side of said metal sheet and is substantiallybifurcated with each side branch being substantially in the form of ahook, and wherein said third engagement portion is substantially in theform of a hook and is positioned on the bottom or radially innermostside of said metal sheet.